Seatrade Cruise Connection

December 2005

2006 Miami Cruise Shipping Convention set for March 13-16

Continuing evolution of the cruise industry among hot topics to be addressed.

An estimated 14 million people worldwide will take cruise vacations in 2005, a 140 percent increase since 1995. Will the pace of growth continue? Will demand outstrip capacity? What will be the next hot product enhancement?

If growth to 2015 matches the previous decade, 34 million people will cruise annually and industry revenues will approach $60 billion per year.

These and many other issues facing the dynamic cruise industry are to be addressed at the 22nd annual edition of the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention, scheduled for March 13-16, 2006, at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Featuring a full slate of conference sessions and the industry’s largest exhibition, the world’s largest cruise industry gathering offers stimulating content in the conference program and the latest products and services on the trade show floor.

The industry has changed dramatically over the past decade, and the pace of change in this ever-dynamic industry seems to accelerate annually. That makes attendance at Seatrade Miami mandatory for anyone seeking a piece of the multi-billion-dollar cruise business or seeking a better understanding of the global cruise industry.

Trends and industry developments will be the focus of the four-day conference, which starts Monday, March 13, with the World Cruise Tourism Summit. Produced in cooperation with the International Council of Cruise Lines and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association, this series of round-table sessions addresses an array of operational topics and important regional issues.

“We believe that passenger and crew safety, as well as Americans with Disabilities Act rules and regulations, and security issues will be prominent topics at Seatrade 2006,” predicted Anders G. Frick, president, FMT North America, which designs and manufactures mobile gangways and passenger boarding bridges.

On Tuesday morning the exhibition officially opens and the conference starts with the State of the Industry Debate. Topping the list of issues this lively panel will address will be the question of capacity — is there enough or too much? How soon will lines place new orders for ships? How big can they get? The viability and reliability of new avenues of distribution, from direct sales via the Internet to home-based travel agents will also be debated.

Jim Lyda of Port Everglades, who will be attending his 18th Seatrade Convention in 2006, notes that these are critical issues for seaports.

“The increased size of today’s cruise ships both on order and in the design phase will have the greatest impact on the port industry,” said Lyda. “This is a growing challenge to shoreside infrastructure funding and improvement.”

Among the 950 exhibiting companies in the three-day exhibition will be found the latest technologies, products and services for cruise ships. The 150,000-net-square-foot trade show is organized into sections and pavilions for the convenience of cruise line executives and buyers.

Many of these exhibitors are seeking to tap into trends in the industry that their product or service serves.

Michael Schrimmer of Windy City Novelties, which supplies glow-in-the-dark party items, novelty products and imprinted barware, says he is trying to get cruise lines to see the profit potential of branded barware.

“All the lines want to maximize their per-client sales once on board,” Schrimmer said. “Our unique barware will help them capitalize by selling significantly more liquor and nonalcoholic drinks.”

In addition to the thoughtprovoking conference sessions and the dazzling exhibition, the Seatrade Convention offers numerous social and networking opportunities during the four-day event. Besides those events, informal continental breakfasts and coffee breaks provide additional opportunities to mix and mingle with Seatrade attendees.